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Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary Table of Contents

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Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary Table of Contents ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TABLE OF CONTENTS Part 1: Overview of the Environmental Impact Statement 1. Introduction . 1 2. The Cooperative Provincial and Federal Environmental Assessment Process . 2 3. The Proponent . 4 4. Rationale for the Project . 5 5. Key Project Components and Activities . 10 6. Consultation Summary. 16 7. Project Benefits . 20 8. Potential Effects of the Project . 24 Environmental Assessment Methodology . 24 Environmental Background. 25 Valued Components . 29 9. Aboriginal Groups and the Potential Impacts on their Rights and Interests . 32 10. Mitigation Measures . 33 11. Proponent’s Conclusions . 35 Significance of Potential Residual Effects of the Project. 35 Significance of Potential Cumulative Effects. 36 12. Conclusion of the Environmental Impact Statement. 38 Part 2: Summary of Valued Components . 41 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Executive Summary highlights the findings The Executive Summary uses concise language and conclusions of the Environmental Impact to summarize complex subjects. Readers Statement (EIS) for the Site C Project. The are referred to the full EIS for a complete summary is in two parts: Part 1 includes an understanding of these subjects. The EIS overview of the EIS and Part 2 provides a can be found at the Canadian Environmental summary of the results of the assessment for Assessment Agency (www.ceaa-acee.gc.ca) each valued component. or at the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office (www.eao.gov.bc.ca). ABOUT SITE C The Site C Clean Energy Project would be a third Subject to approvals, the Project would be a dam and generating station on the Peace River source of clean, reliable and cost-effective in northeast B.C. The Project is being proposed electricity for BC Hydro’s customers for more Site C would by BC Hydro to provide up to 1,100 megawatts than 100 years. provide clean, (MW) of capacity and about 5,100 gigawatt hours reliable power to (GWh) of energy each year to the province’s BC Hydro’s residential, integrated electricity system. commercial and industrial customers in B.C. 1. INTRODUCTION British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority The complete information required by the EIS (BC Hydro) is proposing to construct and Guidelines is set out in the EIS in five volumes operate the Site C Clean Energy Project (the and their appendices: Project). An environmental assessment of • Volume 1 includes the Executive Summary the Project is being conducted pursuant to and Introduction, and provides information the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, about the Project and planning activities. 2012 (CEAA 2012) and the B.C. Environmental This Volume also provides the rationale Assessment Act (BCEAA). for the Project, sets out the assessment The environmental assessment of the process, and summarizes information Project is being carried out in accordance distribution and consultation activities with the Agreement to Conduct a Cooperative (Sections 1-9). Environmental Assessment, Including the • Volume 2 includes a description of Establishment of a Joint Review Panel, of the the effects assessment methodology, Site C Clean Energy Project dated February 8, a description of the environmental 2012, as amended in August 2012 (the BC/ background and potential changes, Canada Agreement). as well as the effects assessment for On September 5, 2012, in accordance with environmental valued components CEAA 2012, BCEAA and the BC/Canada (Sections 10-15). Agreement, the “Site C Clean Energy Project • Volumes 3 and 4 include the effects Environmental Impact Statement Guidelines” assessment for the economic, land and (the EIS Guidelines) were issued by the resource use, social, heritage and health Minister of Environment of Canada and the valued components (Sections 16-33). Executive Director of the Environmental Assessment Office of British Columbia. These • Volume 5 provides information on asserted guidelines set out the requirements that must or established Aboriginal rights and Treaty be met by BC Hydro in its Environmental rights, Aboriginal Interests and Information Impact Statement. Requirements, a Summary of Environmental Management Plans, and other Federal The purpose of the EIS is to meet the information requirements (Sections 34-40). requirements of the EIS Guidelines, including This volume also includes a complete list of describing the rationale for the Project, proposed mitigation measures, a summary identifying potential Project effects and of potential residual effects of the Project, benefits, and proposing measures to avoid or the significance of those potential residual mitigate effects of the Project. effects, proposed follow-up programs, and BC Hydro’s conclusion. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – PART 1 – JANUARY 2013 1 2. THE Cooperative Provincial AND FEDERAL Environmental Assessment Process In May 2011, BC Hydro submitted the “Project Under CEAA 2012 (and formerly under CEAA), Description Report – Site C Clean Energy the Minister of Environment of Canada or Project” (the Project Description Report) the federal responsible authority, and under The environmental to the British Columbia Environmental BCEAA, the Minister of Environment of British assessment process Assessment Office (BCEAO) and the Canadian Columbia or the Executive Director, each began in August 2011 Environmental Assessment Agency (the CEA have the duty to 1) ensure that, where the and is expected to Agency). After an evaluation by the responsible environmental assessment of a project is take approximately authorities, it was determined that the Project required, an assessment is conducted, and three years. is reviewable under the BCEAA and CEAA. 2) determine the scope of the assessment The Minister of Environment of Canada and the required to meet the statutory requirements Minister of Environment of British Columbia and purposes of CEAA 2012 and of BCEAA, agreed to a cooperative environmental respectively. assessment of the Project and entered into the The EIS Guidelines, which set out the B.C./Canada Agreement in February 2012. requirements of the EIS, were finalized The agreement was amended in September following a public comment period and 2012, following a public comment period and a review by an Advisory Working Group. after the enactment of CEAA 2012. The B.C./ The Advisory Working Group includes Canada Agreement provides for three stages representatives from federal and provincial of assessment, the Pre-Panel Stage, the Joint agencies from British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest Territories, AboriginalTsay Keh Denegroups, IR Panel Review Stage, and the Post-Panel Stage. Blueberry River IR Doig River IR This agreement also provides guidance on and local and regional governments. Blueberry River IR expected timing for each review stage. Doig River IR Overview of Environmental Assessment Process and Timeline Halfway River IR Halfway River ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT TIMELINE 29 Charlie Lake Fort St. John Pre-Panel Joint Review Panel Review of Panel Report PROPOSED SITE C RESERVOIR Taylor Review and Report and Decision Moberly River 24 months 8 months 6 months Peace River WILLISTON RESERVOIR Pine River 97 BRITISH COLUMBIA Hudson’s PROPOSED SITE C DAM Hope • Agreement on cooperative federal-provincial • Panel’s sufficiency • Draft Referral Package ALBERTA EA process review of EIS Preparation (EAO) W.A.C. BENNETT DAM PEACE CANYON DAM • Advisory Working Group • Submissions (including • Steering Committee PROPOSED NEW 500 kV LINES ALONG EXISTING TRANSMISSION CORRIDOR • Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Guidelines from Aboriginal groups) Review (EAO, CEA Agency) DINOSAUR RESERVOIR Moberly Lake Saulteau IR • EIS (Application) • Public hearings • Decision by Ministers/ Dawson Creek • Working Group Review of EIS Guidelines and EIS • Panel report Cabinet 97 West Moberly IR • Public comment periods Pouce Coupe Chetwynd 97 ABORIGINAL CONSULTATION AND ACCOMMODATION DISCUSSIONS 52 Tsay Keh Dene IR 97 Mackenzie McLeod Lake IR 2 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – PART 1 – JANUARY 2013 Tumbler Ridge Tsay Keh Dene IR Guiding Principles 2. Public Participation The final EIS Guidelines issued on September 5, The overall objective of public participation is 2012 include the Guiding Principles below. The best achieved when all parties have a clear EIS Guidelines provide that an environmental understanding of the proposed project as early assessment conducted in accordance with the as possible in the review process. The public will B.C./Canada Agreement and the EIS Guidelines be provided with opportunities to participate in meet the objectives of these guiding principles. the environmental assessment process. 1. Environmental Assessment 3. Aboriginal Consultation Environmental Assessment (EA) is a BCEAO and Canada are committed to working comprehensive process to identify and evaluate constructively with Aboriginal groups to ensure the potential effects of a proposed major project that the Crown fulfills its duties of consultation and ways to avoid or mitigate adverse effects. and accommodation. The proponent must ensure that it engages with Aboriginal groups that may be affected by the project, or that have asserted or established Aboriginal rights or treaty rights in the project area, as early as possible in the project planning process. Tsay Keh Dene IR Blueberry River IR Doig River IR Blueberry River IR British Alberta Doig River IR Columbia Halfway River IR Halfway River 29 Charlie Lake Fort St. John PROPOSED SITE C RESERVOIR Taylor 0 5 10 15 20 25 Moberly
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